Strong (pictured) succeeds Nick Baker, UK chief executive of Savanta, who has been chair since 2013.

The Delphi Group produces reports, research and other types of content aimed at supporting the development of the industry, covering issues including privacy, unconscious bias and artificial intelligence.

Jane Frost, chief executive, MRS, said: "It is the nature of the research sector that all the projects on which it works generate a vast amount of insight and data that lands up ‘on the cutting room floor'. Much of this is expertise is filed away in the minds of researchers and insight professionals that work on these projects, as well as in company vaults and databases.

"MRS Delphi Group uses all that knowledge, combining it with a diversity of thinking from across the industry, and applies it to relevant issues, producing reports, podcasts and other material to enrich wider understanding."

Frost added: "Already a recognised luminary in understanding customer attitudes and behaviour, Colin is uniquely placed to lead the group into the next decade. On behalf of MRS and the sector, I would like to thank Nick Baker for his stewardship of this think tank."